Student Progression Plan

Middle School Course Requirements and Progression

To be promoted to grade 9, students are required to successfully complete the following courses in grades 6-8:
  • Three middle school or higher courses in language arts, which emphasize literature, composition, and technical text
  • Three middle school or higher courses in mathematics
  • Three middle school or higher courses in social studies.
    • One semester which must include the study of state and federal government and civics education.
    • Additionally, a career and education planning course must be completed in either grades 6, 7 or 8th The course must be internet based, customizable to each student and include research based assessment to assist the students in determining educational and career options. 1003.4156 F.S.
  • Three middle school or higher courses in science
  • The equivalent of one class period per day of physical education for one semester of each year.
One of the social studies courses must be at least a one semester civics education course that includes the roles and responsibilities of federal, state and local governments; the structures and functions of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government; and the meaning and significance of historic documents, such as the Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. A student transferring into middle grades after the beginning of the second term is not required to meet this requirement if three social studies courses or two year-long courses that include civics have already been completed. Each student’s performance on the state Civics End-of-Course (EOC) assessment will be 30% of the final grade in the course. Students with disabilities may qualify for a waiver of the EOC requirement. Please see page 32 – Statewide Assessment for more information. The physical education requirement shall be waived for students who meet one of following criteria: (1003.455 F.S.)
  • The student is enrolled or required to enroll in a remedial course.
  • The student’s parent/legal guardian indicates in writing to the school district that
    • the parent/legal guardian requests that the student enrolls in another course from among those courses offered as options by the school district, based upon availability at the students’ school of attendance or
    • the student is participating in physical activities outside the school day which are equal to or in excess of the mandated requirement.
Students are required to receive 300 minutes of instruction during the school day. Physical activities outside the school day do not release students from the 300 minutes of instruction requirement. A student must take an approved, alternative middle school course if physical education course is waived. District Middle School Initiatives include:
  • document-based questions (DBQs)
  • electives as appropriate to the student’s Customized Learning Path (CLP)
  • the Character Counts! Program is integrated into all subject areas
  • all middle school students are encouraged to take part in service learning/volunteer opportunities.
  • Required instruction (42 F.S.)

Middle School Promotion

Middle School Grade Level Classification Requirements

  • Classification for 6th Grade – promotion from 5th grade
  • Classification for 7th Grade – successful completion of 6th grade language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies
  • Classification for 8th Grade – successful completion of 7th grade language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies

Additional Requirement:

  • the equivalent of one class period per day of physical education for one semester of each year for students enrolled in grades 6 through 8 unless student is eligible for a state-approved waiver.

Student grade level classification or course placement at the end of the first semester will determine which Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) or Florida Alternate Assessment (FAA) is administered.

Course Prerequisites and Corequisites

Many courses listed in the St. Johns County High School Course Catalog have prerequisites and corequisites. These prerequisites and/or corequisites must be honored unless student petition and the ensuing conversation with a school counselor indicate that an exception needs to be made based on data and a student’s Customized Learning Path. Course Placement Core course placement is based on a review of pre and/or co-requisite courses, current grades, state assessment scores and teacher recommendations.

Exemptions from Instruction 1003.42(5) F.S.

Any student whose parent/legal guardian presents a written request to the principal shall be exempted from instruction on reproductive health or any disease, including HIV/Aids, its symptoms, development, and treatment. A student so exempted shall not be penalized by reason of the exemption The exemption must be requested annually.

Pursuant to F.S. 1003.47, dissection may be performed on nonliving mammals or birds secured from a recognized source of specimens and under supervision of qualified instructors. Students may be excused upon written request of a parent/guardian.

Any student whose parent/legal guardian presents a written request to the principal shall be exempted from a proposed supplemental literary study, the content or presentation of which causes parent/legal guardian concern. The student so exempted shall be provided an alternative selection and shall not be penalized by reason of the exemption.

Replacement of Middle School Courses

Course replacements for middle school students shall be made on a case-by-case basis upon petition on to the middle school principal. Upon completion of a possible replacement course for a previously failed middle school course, students/parents/legal guardians must supply documentation considering of the following items:
  • proof of the accreditation status of the school at which the replacement course was completed, (see listing of regional accreditation agencies in Awarding of New Credit Section. htps://www/elearners.com/resources/agencies.asp)
  • documentation of mastery of the appropriate benchmarks of the Florida Standards for the replacement course
    • a portfolio of work representative of the content of the course, or
    • Academic Recovery Lab record.

Eighth Grade Students who did not Successfully Complete Middle School Promotion Requirements

Students in grade eight who do not successfully complete course work required to enter high school must receive individual counseling regarding their academic options before the close of the school year. This academic counseling must include information regarding summer remediation programs at a high school site, at the middle school, virtually, or some combination of these and/or other options.

Academic counseling must include contact with the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the student. A planning document describing options to which the student and family has agreed must be produced and maintained at the school site and shared with the appropriate high school. This plan must be progress monitored during the summer to determine if the student is making adequate progress on the remediation plan. The summer remediation plan can be added to an existing MTSS plan.

When appropriate, application can be made to St. Johns Technical High School with acceptance based upon a review of the application applying standard criteria for admission and space availability.

Eighth grade students missing only one course to qualify for high school, who do not successfully remediate the course during the summer, will attend their zoned high school (school of instruction) while maintaining their status as an eighth-grade middle school student (school of enrollment). This arrangement will exist until the student successfully completes the single middle school course needed. At this time, the status of the student’s enrollment would be changed to the high school (school of enrollment and of instruction would now be the same).

Students who are missing several required courses that are unable to remediate them in the summer should repeat the missing middle school courses at their zoned middle school.

No Social Promotion/Administrative Placement 1008.25(6)(a) F.S.

Florida statute prohibits the assignment of a student to a grade level based solely on age or other factors that constitute social promotion or administrative placement at the next grade level without regard for student mastery of the appropriate Florida Standards. A student fails to meet the state portion of levels of performance for student progression when the student fails to achieve Level 3 on the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) in reading, mathematics, and/or science. As the FSA is not the sole determiner of promotion or retention, the Intervention Team or its equivalent shall base a promotion or retention decision on the preponderance of evidence reviewed.

Promotion of Late-in-the Year Transfer Students

The promotion of students transferring into St Johns County during the last grading period shall be determined primarily by the grades and records received from the sending school.

Mid-Year Promotion of Retained Students from 6th to 7th or 7th to 8th Grade

In middle school, mid-year promotion is defined as promotion of a retained student at any time during the year of retention once the student has successfully completed the four (4) core grade academic requirements (language arts, mathematics, science, social studies) of the preceding grade level. Student grade level classification or course placement at the end of the first semester will determine which grade level Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) is administered.

Middle School Course Sequence

For Advanced Course Placement: Grade “C” or better in previous honors course, grade “A” in the previous standard course with teacher recommendation, FAST Level 4 or 5 but not less than 3 in any area.

Accelerated pathways require supplemental work to be completed during the summer.

Algebra 1 Honors* Must pass the FAST Algebra 1 EOC and the FAST EOC grade is 30% of the final course grade. (Honors carries a 0.5 bonus weighting.)

Geometry Honors** Must take FAST Geometry EOC and the FAST Geometry EOC grade is 30% of the final course grade. (Honors carries a 0.5 bonus weighting.)

* 7th grade students in an advanced science or social studies course should participate in National History Day or Secondary STEM Fair with a project.

** Students enrolled in Physical Science Honors in 8th grade will take the Statewide Science Assessment (SAS) at the end of the school year and should be concurrently enrolled in Algebra 1 Honors or a higher-level math course.

*** M/J Comprehensive Science Accelerated Honors 1: Concurrent enrollment in M/J 6th Grade Advanced Math and a scaled score of at least 344 (mid-level 4) or higher on Florida State Assessment for Reading in Grade 5 is required for enrollment in M/J Comprehensive Science Accelerated Honors 1. Accelerated Honors 1 and Accelerated Honors 2 are required prerequisites for eligibility to enroll in Biology Honors as a middle school student enrolled in a school that offers Biology Honors.

# Biology Honors: Students enrolled in Honors Biology in 8th grade must be concurrently enrolled in, or have previously completed, Geometry Honors. The students should have completed the Accelerated Honors Course pathway and have an FSA reading level of 4 or higher. Students enrolled in Biology Honors in grade 8 will take the Statewide Biology End of Course Assessment (EOC) and it will constitute 30% of the student’s grade for the year.

* 8th grade students needing to meet the middle grades Civics requirement will be enrolled in M/J Civics – EOC is 30% of final grade or enrolled in M/J Civics Advanced – EOC is 30% of final grade.

Electives – Middle school students in SJCSD have opportunities to explore visual art, performing art, physical education, and STEM.

Middle School Computer Education Progression

Depending on course availability and student needs, some schools may offer a slightly different progression in this area (either through alternate courses or digital tools earned). Additionally, digital tools may be offered in STEM, digital art, and core classes at some schools.

Career and Professional Academies in SJCSD

F.S. 1003.4935 – Students are introduced to various careers through career exploration activities and events in middle school. As middle grades students explore career options utilizing Xello and other identified tools, 8th graders are invited to a variety of events to prepare them for high school Career Academy and other CTE options. Assemblies are held at each of the middle schools, known as the Middle School Blitz, when the Career Specialists and academy students from the neighboring high schools give a presentation to the options district wide. Middle grades students are then invited to a High School Showcase, where Programs of Interest are highlighted through a tradeshow-style event. Finally, each high school holds an “Academy Night”.  These events are the main avenues for teachers, business partners and students in the programs to assist middle grades students and their parents in understanding available options at the high schools that prepare students for a specific career and/or additional fields of study. Programs of Study and other marketing materials are shared at each of the events. Additional information can be located through the St. Johns County Career and Technical Education website: https://cte.stjohns.k12.fl.us/

Middle School-to-Work Transition

All elementary, middle, and high schools shall document the manner in which they have prepared students to enter the workforce, including information regarding the provision of accurate, timely career and curricular counseling to students.

This information shall include a delineation of available career opportunities, educational requirements associated with each career, educational institutions that prepare students to enter each career, and student financial aid available to enable students to pursue any postsecondary instruction required to enter that career.

Schools shall also delineate school procedures for identifying individual student interests and aptitudes which enable students to make informed decisions about the curriculum that best addresses their individual interests and aptitudes while preparing them to enroll in postsecondary education and enter the workforce.

Beginning in grade 6, students shall receive information which includes recommended high school coursework that prepares students for success in college-level work. The information shall be made known to parents/legal guardians and students annually through inclusion in the school’s handbook, manual, or similar documents or other communications regularly provided to parents/legal guardians and students.